Fire-alarm switch.



P. ESKRIDGE. FIRE ALARM SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 9, 1909.

97%353 Patented; 60%. 1.2, 3810.

(litmus/12o C I. 614mm tea 8 v POE W. ESKRIDGE, OI RUTHERFORDTON NORTHCAEDLINA.

FIRE-ALARIYI SNITCH..

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented (For. a

Application-filed June 9, 1909. Serial No. 501,080.

To aLt whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Pon WV. Esmuocr, a citizen of the United States,residin at Rutherfordton, in the county of Rutherrord and State of NorthCarolina, have invented a new 7 and useful Fire-Alarm Switch, of whichthe following is a specification.

The object of this invention is to produce a device of simpleconstruction which will automatically close an electric circuit in alire alarm telegraph line so as to give an alarm when a fire occurs inan apartment equipped with the device.

With this object in view the invention consists in a swinging framenormally held in a raised position and arranged to move into engagementwith a pair of contacts forming part of a fire alarm system, all ofwhich will be hereinafter first fully described, and the novel featuressubsequently claimed.

In the annexed drawings, which fully illustrate my invention, Figure 1is a front elevation of my improved circuit closer. Fig. 2 is an edgeview of the same showing the device in its normal position. Fig. 3 is asimilar view showing the device in the circuit closing position. Fig. 4is, a sectional view, taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a base 1 of porcelain or otherinsulating material which may be of any desired shape and is secured tothe wall or ceiling or other part of a room. At one end this base isformed with slits in which contact-members 2 are fitted, the saidcontact members consisting of a pair of metal plates having a securingportion 3, at the inner end of which is a shortlip 4t disposedsubstantially at a right angle to the said securing portion 3 andadaptedto rest in a socket formed in the base at the inner or rear endof the slit in the same. At the outer end of the securing portion 3 eachplate is shaped to provide a U-shapcd off-set 5 from the outer end ofwhich extends a short straight neck 6 and from the outer end of saidneck projects a laterally curved arm 7. The two members thus constructedare placed together, as shown most clearly in Fig. l, so that theretaining portions 3 will bear against each other and the lips 4 willrest against the base of the socket in the base plate 1, the said socketbeing filled with a plug 8 of cement or other insulating mate,- rial soas to secure the contact member firmly and permanently in place. Theoff-set portions 5 of the members, together present an .necks 6 of thesaid metal plates are 't'rame around upon its journaled conn angular boxin which a block 9 of copper or other conducting material. is held,being clamped in the said box by having the necks 6 of the membersriveted together, as shown in Fig. 4-, while the laterally fia red arms7 constitute a seat for the circuit closing frame presently described.

It will be seen from the. foregoing 1i tion, that the portions 0 or themetal plates are held together by the base plate 1 and the 1L rivetedtogether so that the block 9 will be firmly secured. The said block 9 isprovided. with a central opening 10 adapted to receive the end of theline wire 11, and a binding: screw 12 is mounted in the side of theblock and adapted to be turned home against the line wire 11 so as tosecure the same firmly within the block and in intimate contact with thewalls of the central opening therein. At an intermediate point of thebase plateli provide the bearings 13 in which is journaled a circuitclosing frame 1% consisting of a copper wire bent to present acontinuous open frame having one end extending through and journ'aled inthe said bearings 13, and its ends fitted together at the outer side ofone of said bearings. The opposite or outer end of the fame 14: isequipped with a hook 15 of some material which will melt'at a lowtemperature, the said hook bcing adapted to engage a similar hook or armlfi carried by the end of the base plate 1. Around the jourualcd end ofthe frame 14- I coil a spring 17 having one end bearing upon and securedto the base plate .1, and its other end attached to one of the side barsof the frame so that should the hooks 1C and 16 become disengaged thecircuit closing frame will at once he swung over and into engagementwith the contact members :2 so as to complete a circuit through the linewires and thereby sound an alarm in iltt usual manner.

The normal position oi the parts is shown in Figs. 1 and 2, in whichfigures the circuitclosing frame 1% is held raised by means of the hooks15 and 16 the circuit is broken and no current is passing. Should a firebreak out in the room where the device is place the hooks 15 and 16 willbe melted so that the circuit closing frame H will be released and thespring 17 will at once swing tl with the base plate so that the outerIre: 2nd

over the contact members and the side bars of theframe will be forcedinto engagement with the said contact members, as shown in Fig. 3 andthe circui Will be closed, the current passing through the frame betweenthe contact members. 1

It will be observed that the device is extremely simple in itsconstruction, and the contact members 2 are so formed as to provide aflared mouth to receive the side bars of the circuit-closing frame andguide them into positive engagement with the contact members. Theformation of the mouths of the contact members, together with the actionof the spring 17, causes an intimate contact between the members 2 andthe circuitclosing frame so that the circuit will be positively closedand the alarm given. The construction of the circuit-closing frame issuch that the side arms or active portions thereof are maintained at theproper distance apart at all times and are prevented from being bent soas to be incapable of engaging the contact members 2, while at the sametime the said circuit closing frame is very light -and consequently willbe easily operated by the spring bearing thereon, and can be man--members 2.in the base plate also effectually resists any tendency of thesaid members to move laterally or twist out of their proper operativepositions so that the usefulness of the device is effectuallymaintained.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

The combination of apair of contact members forming part of a fire alarmtelegra-ph,.

a circuit closing member consisting of a wire bent to form an integralopen continuous frame having one side suitably journaled at a pointdistant from the contact members, a spring coiled around the saidjournaled side and attached to one of the meeting sides of the saidframe whereby to cause the free side of said frame to engage and bridgethecontact members, and a fusible retaining device carried by the freeside of said frame and holding the frame normally out of engagement withthe contact members.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

POE V. ESKRIDGE.

Witnesses i P. G. RoLLINs, E. B. Harms.

